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BERLIN (AP) - The U.S. and Germany signed an agreement Monday to share science and technology research in an effort to improve the security of both nations.

U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said after signing the agreement with German Research Minister Annette Schavan that the countries would pool resources in developing analytical tools and other technological and scientific research pertaining to security issues.

“Homeland security is not about walling ourselves off from other countries, it is about cooperating with our allies,” Napolitano said.

Schavan said that both countries were looking for ways to use technology to find “innovative solutions” that ensure a “good balance of security and freedoms.”

Napolitano met in Berlin over the weekend with the top security officials of Germany, France, Italy, Poland, Spain and Britain and said she found “much agreement” among the nations.

She said that while the administration of President Barack Obama would emphasize international cooperation in security matters, there would also be continuity with programs begun under the previous administration.

“Security is not a partisan issue, it is an issue that is very common and many of the initiatives undertaken before will be pursued even with the change in administrations,” she said.

“But we recognize, very dearly, that close cooperation with our allies and the willingness to listen, to participate together is a key part of the policy of the Obama administration and so it’s something that I think we will see even more of in the coming months.”